Slayed by Amanda Marrone

Age Group Tween/YA 
Pages: 240 
Publisher: Simon Pulse 
Publication Date: 05 October 2016 

The Van Helsing family has been hunting vampires for over one hundred years, but sixteen-year-old Daphne wishes her parents would take up an occupation that doesn’t involve decapitating vamps for cash. All Daphne wants is to settle down in one place, attend an actual school, and finally find a BFF to go to the mall with. Instead, Daphne has resigned herself to a life of fast food, cheap motels and buying garlic in bulk. 
But when the Van Helsings are called to a coastal town in Maine, Daphne’s world is turned upside down. Not only do the Van Helsings find themselves hunting a terrifying new kind of vampire (one without fangs but with a taste for kindergarten cuisine), Daphne meets her first potential BF! The hitch? Her new crush is none other than Tyler Harker, AKA, the son of the rival slayer family. 
What's a teen vampire slayer to do?

This is one of those novels have I have had sat on my bookshelf for god only knows how long.  It was one of those novels that never really called to me, so I when I reached for a new book I would just pass over it.  Having been very busy with College classes recently, I have been turning more toward standalone novels.   This book just happened to fit the bill.  I did not find it a particularly amazing book, but nor was it a complete bore. 

This book would be good for someone, like myself, who is looking for a quick and easy read.  It is not the type of book that requires critical thinking nor does it require much forethought. The vampires are pretty standard, and the characters are the descendants from pretty commonly known characters from Dracula.  This, the fact that it is a stand-alone novel, and its short length make it the perfect read if someone wants a one or two sitting book. 

The other person that I think this book would be well suited for would be a tween or newly young adult reader.  The book was not too sexual in nature.  There was references to sex and hookups, but they were never too graphic; deeming this book appropriate for most young teens.  This book also works well for young teens because of the narration style of the book.  The main character is only seventeen, however, I often felt like the narration would have been that of someone even younger. The character and tone of the novel feel very youthful and slightly melodramatic.  Which would probably appeal to a younger crowd. 

In total, this novel isn’t no hidden gem, but it is a fun and rather lighthearted read considering it is a paranormal novel.  It would be great for those who are looking for a quick one-sit-down read, or those who are younger and want to read an age appropriate paranormal novel.  This is no best-seller but it a cute age appropriate novel.